As anyone who has ever ridden a bicycle on a windy day will testify, aerodynamics play a huge role in cycling. Perhaps more than any other sport, top-level cycling is dominated by aerodynamics. Drag makes up 80-90% of the resistance experienced by an average rider on a flat road. 80% of this drag is due to the rider, with the remaining 20% down to the bicycle itself.

Since 1995, Cervélo’s mission has been to produce lighter, stronger and more aerodynamic cycles using the most advanced technology in both engineering and manufacturing, with the aim of helping their customers win races.

In 2010, global wind power installations increased by 22%, according to the most recent information available from the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), an international representative forum for the wind energy sector.

With three weeks left for registrations, this year's event has already attracted a record breaking attendance, attracted by an agenda that includes over 50 presentations from industrial leaders in engineering simulation, each of whom will reveal the secrets of their engineering successes.

The conference will include an open discussion with a specially selected panel of experts including analysts, media and innovative industrial users.

As sailing fans gathered in Auckland to greet their favourite teams in the Volvo Ocean Race, an international collection of scientists, engineers and designers busied themselves with studies of the complex forces and shapes that generate higher and higher sailing speeds.

Day one of the Fourth High Performance Yacht Design Conference in Auckland included a close examination of the aerodynamics involved and revealed something of the rigorous processes behind producing sail packages that provide a performance edge.